Support and guide for drill stems



May 24, 1949- w. s. HENDRlcKs I SUPPORT AND GUIDE FOR DRILL STEMS` 2Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deo. l2, 1945 TTI SM /4 Il vI HI Iv llllllllllll IHl! HIH IHIIIN Z7 ng] /26 MGI] SHendrjcks -NVENTOR May 24, 1949. w. s.HENDRIcKs '2,470,983

' SUPPORT AND GUIDE FOR DRILL STEMSv Filed Dec. l2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet2 PII/ij] f Hendricks IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 24, 1949 SUPPORT ANDI GUIDE FOR ADRILL STEMS vWill S.Hendricks, Wichita-Falls, Tex., assignor of one-half to PeytonCastillow, Wichita Falls,

Tex.

Applcaton'December 12, 1945, Serial No. 634,591

46 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in .a support and guide for drillstem `and the like to be used in derricks after the drill stem or pipeis racked in the derrick but before'thefelevators are attached thereto.

Elevators are well known devices that are used to raise and align thelengths of-pipe or drillstem over the bore hole of a well. Heretofore,after-the drill stem or pipe has been racked in the derrick each length,as it was to be used, was propped and balanced out from the rack ibymeans of anotched board to put it into position for the elevator to beattached. This practice not only required a great deal of manual eifort,which was time consuming, but was very dangerous, because, if a heavylength of pipe slipped workmen were likely to be injured or valuableequipment damaged or both.

The primary object of this present invention is to provide a support andguide for drill stem and the like that will securely hold the lengths ofdrill stem in an upright position -in the derrick until the elevator islocked in place and the grip of which will automatically release'whenthe drill stem is raised upward by the elevator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support and guide fordrill stem andthe like which is easily guided, which will hold the drillstem securely in the desired position until the elevator is placedthereon but which will automatically release the drill stem when it israised vby the elevator.

A still further objectof this invention isto provide a drill stem guideand support that is simple in construction, easy to install, andeffective -in operation.

This invention is used in a derrick to support the drill stem or pipeagainst lateral `movement and to guide it in to proper position for theelevator to be locked thereon. The invention is so arranged that thedrill stem is readily received by outwardly extending `hooks on pivotedarms, when the slight pressure of resting the drill stem against thehooks isfexerted. When the drill stem has been received bythe hooks theylock therearound and hold it securely until the stem is raised upward bythe elevator, at which time the guide support automatically releases thepipe or drill stem.

A practical embodiment of this invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion .of a platform positionedinthe upper portion; of aconventional well derrick-andadaptedfto receivec the :pipe supporting and guiding device thereon;

Fig. 2 Vis a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-`3 ofrFig. 1;

Fig. 4 vis a side elevational view of a portable derrick showing thedrill stem racked therein; and

Fig. `5 `is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line.5-5 of Fig. 4.

It .isto be understood that while, for purposes 4of illustration, theinvention has been shown as attached to a platform positioned in theupper portion of the derrick, that more than one platform or othersuitable securing device may be used. The platform is practical,however, inasmuch as it provides space on which men may work, and it maybe positioned in the derrick to meet the `needs and conditions of theparticular `strips A6 hold the drill stem in racked position.

Thenumeral 'I designates the well.

The drill stem supporting and guiding device generally designated as 4has an angular bar or plate 8 which serves as a base :by which it issecured to the platform 9 by bolts 8a or other suitable means. Abifurcated member Ill is pivotally mounted on bolt II to permit theswinging of Aarms I-2 and I3 about the axis formed by the bolt IY'I.With the springs I4 in depressed position, as shown in Fig. 3, the armsI2 and I3 may be swung :out of llocking notch I5, which notch is formedin aber I6 stationarily mounted on bolts I1 secured to `base plate 8.The spring I4 surrounds the bolt II :and is depressed 'by arms I 2- andI3 moving downward on top of bar I8. The arms I2 and I3 are pivotedtogether by a bolt I9 so that one may be 4moved with respect to theother to open hook .portions 20 and 2I, as indicated in dot-dashoutlines in Fig. 1.

A bolt 2.2 :passes through holes 23-24 formed inthe-ends of the arms I2and I3, respectively. Springs `l5 are positioned around bolt 22 so as to.normally urge arms VI2 and I3 together, as indicated infFig.;1. Withthe arms I2 and I3 posi- -tioned 'together :they can readily drop intolock notch and hold the pipe or drill stem in position until it is readyfor the elevator to be coupled thereto. While one form of the devicesecured to the platform has been illustrated, it is to be understoodthat the device may have various positions on the platform 9 or may bepositioned on other platforms in the upper portions of the derrick asindicated by the requirements of the individual job.

For operation, the drill stem support and guide is secured to theplatform 9 by bolts that pass through plate 8 and platform 9. Then withthe arms I2 and I3 positioned out of lock notch I5, as shown in Fig. 3,the pipe or drill stern 3 may be forced into hooks 2li-2l, as indicatedin dotdash outline, against tension of springs 25, and when the pipepasses within the embrace of the hooks 2li-2|, the springs 25 will urgethe arms I2-I 3 together at which time the arms and hooks are manuallyswung about pivot bolt I I until the arms I2-I3 drop into lock notch I5to hold the pipe in an outwardly extending position so that the elevatormay be readily coupled thereto and at the same time the pipe is securelyheld against any lateral movement. Upon connecting the elevator to thelength of drill stem the friction of the pipe on hooks 2|l-2I will causehooks 20-2I to move upward and the arms I2-I3 to move downward aboutpivot bolt 26 until the arms are out of lock notch I5. The arms are thenfree to open and permit the pipe to swing outward. The arms I2-I3 may bedepressed downward against tension of springs I4 and the spring 21 willmove hooks 2li-2l to one side so as to receive another length of pipewithin the hooks 20--2I and the operation is repeated.

A series of holes IBa are disposed within bar I6 so as to permitlongitudinal movement of bar I6 which will adjust the position of hooks2li-2l. Holes Ila, are provided for adjustment of pivot bolt I I so asto properly position the hooks 20-2I in correct alignment with notch I5when bar I6 has been adjusted.

This invention provides a secure support for the drill stem while it isbeing held outward for the elevator to be locked thereon. There is nodanger of the pipe slipping or being accidentally knocked from itssupport, thereby injuring workmen and damaging equipment. It is held inthe proper position as long as necessary and automatically released whenthe elevator is locked thereon and swung back into position to receiveanother length of drill stem.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a pipe holding device to be mounted in a derrick, a base, a pairof arms pivotally mounted on said base and having inturned hooks at theouter ends thereof for receiving a pipe therebetween, the arms extendinginwardly in parallel relation and being normally urged together byresilient means, a bar positioned above said arms and having a notchformed therein adapted to receive the arms therebetween, a resilientlymounted bar positioned below said arms and adapted to move downward upondepressing said arms so as to permit the arms to be spread apart for therelease of said pipe from between said hooks.

2. In a pipe holding device to be mounted in a derrick, a base, a pairof arms pivotally mounted on said base and having inturned hooks at theouter ends thereof for receiving a pipe therebetween, the arms extendinginwardly in parallel relation and being normally urged together byresilient means, a bar positioned above said arms and having a notchformed therein adapted to receive the arms therebetween, means foradjusting said lock notch with respect to said base, a resilientlymounted bar positioned below said arms and adapted to move downward upondepressing said arms so as to permit the arms to be spread apart forrelease of said pipe from between said hooks.

3. In a pipe holding device for mounting within a derrick, a base, apair of arms pivotally mounted on said base and adjustable with respectthereto, each lol said arms having an inturned hook at the outer endthereof for receiving pipe therebetween, means for locking said hooksabout said pipe, means for normally urging together the inwardlyextending parallel arms, a bar positioned above said arms and having anotch formed therein adapted to receive the arms therebetween, aresiliently .mounted bar positioned below said arms and adapted to movedownward upon depressing said arms so as to permit the arms to be spreadapart for release of said pipe from between said hooks when said pipe israised upward.

4. In a pipe holding device for mounting within a derriclr, a base, apair of arms pivotally mounted on said base and movable with respectthereto, each of said arms having an inturned hook at the outer endthereof for receiving pipe therebetween, means for locking said hooksabout said pipe, resilient means for normally urging together theinwardly extending arms, said hooks being releasable from said lockingmeans upon upward movement of said hooks so as to permit the arms to bespread apart for release of said pipe from between said hooks when saidpipe is moved upward.

5. In a pipe holding device for mounting within aV derrick, a base, apair of arms pivotally mounted on said base and movable with respectthereto, each of said arms having an inturned hook at the outer endthereof for receiving pipe therebetween, abutment means for locking saidhooks about said pipe, resilient means for normally urging the inwardlyextending arms together, said hooks being releasable from said abutmentlocking means upon upward movement of said hooks so as to permit thearms to be spread apart for release of said pipe from between said hookswhen said pipe is moved upward.

6. In a pipe holding device for mounting within a derrick, a base, apair of arms pivotally mounted on said base for upward and horizontalmovement relative thereto, each of said arms having an inturned hook atthe outer end thereof for receiving pipe therebetween, means for lockingsaid hooks about said pipe, resilient means for normally urging togetherthe inwardly extending arms, said hooks being releasable from saidlocking means upon upward movement of said hooks so as to permit thearms to be spread apart for release of said pipe from between said hookswhen said pipe is moved upward.

WILL S. HENDRICKS.

REFERENCES citeren The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

